09 July 2011

Richard Nahem's highly successful Paris blog, Eye Prefer Paris, is embarking on its sixth year. Looking back, Richard talks with Paris Writers News about finding a voice, building a readership, and integrating blogging with his other activity, Paris tours. Looking forward, he shares his insights into changes in the travel writing profession, and the importance of good blog content.

PWN interview by Laurel Zuckerman

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Laurel Zuckerman: Richard, your blog Eye Prefer Paris, just celebrated its fifth year. Congratulations! What gave you the idea originally?

Richard Nahem: Thank you. I moved here in 2005 and was looking to do something new with my life. It was the beginning of the blogging boom and I thought I would get in on the ground floor with the idea of an insiders guide to Paris from an ex-New Yorker’s viewpoint.

RN: I found my voice rather quickly and in the beginning I just did two posts a week. I later started reading a lot about successful blogs and how blogs can make money plus bring other opportunities. I switched to four times a week to become more substantial and to position myself better.

LZ: You have thousands of faithful readers and subscribers. How do you build a faithful readership?

RN: I think that with almost all good blogs, interesting content is key plus with mine the photos play an important role in my success. Also, if you are consistent and post regularly readers know what to expect. My readers know they are getting a little piece of Paris in their email Monday through Thursday. Whenever I meet people or have new tour clients I ask if I could subscribe them. I must have personally subscribed hundreds of people

LZ: How do you work with guest bloggers? What do they bring to the blog?

RN: I think guest bloggers bring a fresh voice and readers appreciate that. Sometimes I have themes and people will write around them. Otherwise I just give them freedom to write what they want as long as it’s something to do with Paris or France and has a certain amount of words.

LZ: Your writing has appeared in many other publications. Is it hard to switch from one style of writing to another?

RN: I regularly write for www.julib.com, a fashion and trend site, and a monthly Paris column on http://www.travelagentcentral.com/blogs, a luxury travel agent blog. I have also written for a luxury gay travel magazine Passport and an article for The Guardian in London. Actually it’s fun switching writing styles and third person can be a relief from writing “I” all the time. It’s also a great exercise in writing; it really expands and strengthens your writing. It also puts your brain on a different setting.

LZ: What makes for good blog writing?

RN: Concise, down to earth from the heart writing. Also a personal and strong viewpoint. being personal without being too personal. No one needs to know your personal hygiene habits or why you broke up with your boyfriend.

LZ: You offer tours of Paris, especially the Marais which is your home. A business question—how do the blog and the touring business complement each other? Is each independent or do they work together?

RN: They complement each other perfectly and work off one another. I started the blog first and the tours six months later. The tours are an extension of the blog and I tell clients that many of the places I write about on the blog will be on the tours. The blog inadvertently became a marketing tool for the tours. I make Paris so irresistible to my readers that they eventually have to come to Paris and book a tour. But it’s not why I write the blog, but it’s an extra bonus when someone books a tour because they found my blog.

LZ: Travel writing has changed dramatically in the past few years. What do you see as the biggest changes?

RN: Online publications and online content for magazines has made the biggest difference. Most travel magazines are much more targeted now and also articles are getting shorter. Also the pay is a lot less now and many online publications don’t compensate that well. Magazines are competing with so much more free content online from blogs and other sites. It is mind-boggling how many travel sites and blogs there are.

LZ: What advice would you give to a young writer—especially a travel writer—starting out today?

RN: Start a blog, it’s the best way to build your writing and write consistently. A good blog is a great calling card/resume builder.

LZ: Of all the pieces you’ve ever written, which one makes you proudest?

RN: I never planned on being a writer. In fact I barely ever wrote anything before I started my blog. After I started my blog, some publications asked me to write articles for them and that’s how I started.

LZ: Is there any other profession you’ve always dreamed about?

RN: I always wanted to be a travel photographer and I am now partly fulfilling that dream with the photos I take for my blog. I eventually want to have my photos in other outlets like magazines books, etc. and travel the rest of the world and take photos.

LZ: How (and this is an important question given the sedentary nature of writing) do you stay in shape?

RN: I do yoga, go to the gym, and walk a lot on my tours.

LZ: Why Paris?

RN: Because “eye “ prefer it.

LZ: What are you working on now?

RN: I am writing an article for Passport for the September issue about made to measure clothing and accessories in Paris. I am also working on some book ideas based on certain features on my blog.

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Richard Nahem's highly successful Paris blog, Eye Prefer Paris, is embarking on its sixth year. Looking back, Richard talks with Paris Writers News about finding a voice, building a readership, and integrating blogging with his other activity, Paris tours. Looking forward, he shares his insights into changes in the travel writing profession, and the importance of good blog content.